From its promotional campaign, you could be forgiven into thinking that "Splice" is just another trashy B-Movie Creature/Horror extravaganza, just like "Predators" was only a few short weeks ago. Ironically both also feature Adrien Brody as the male lead, but whereas the films are similar in genre and in dealing with alien forms of humanoid life, both are tonally, very drastically different. "Predators" offers the more shallow nights entertainment. You bought a tickets for very scary looking creatures attacking humans and thats what you get, nothing more or less. However buying a ticket and going into "Splice" you could easily be forgiven in thinking that the same nights entertainment lies in store for you. This is because "Splice" is an entirely different beast altogether (pun intended). A thoughtful and sometimes uncomfortable probe into humans obsession of genetics and cloning, it features conflicting themes of raising children in modern day America, while simultaneously being a "Frankenstein" story for the 21st Century. As a result, its nature is quite divisive, leading to potential reactions from being very thoughtfully impressed by the deep themes this film attempts to go into, and those who dismiss it as laughably cheap and ridiculous to the point of extreme. I fall somewhere in the middle.
Bio-Chemists and partners Clive and Elsa have created life by splicing together the DNA of various different animals as research into curing different diseases and plagues of the world. The large maggot like creatures they dub Fred and Ginger offer a glimpse into the future of genetics and where it could take them. However, the two push this research into morally questionable territory when they add human DNA into the mix and they give life to a new type of creature; not entirely human, but not all animal either. The life form matures at an alarmingly fast rate and it is not long before the two find themselves, in attempting to keep their creation hidden, raising the child 'thing'. They name their creation 'Dren'. So while Elsa loves it in the ways her own Mother never loved her, Clive finds himself growing ever more attracted to the creature. Clive and Elsas background and relationship problems will come to feature predominantly and eventually lead to whether the two can actually control and raise this creature, while trying to keep her secret. The film for the most part is at the very least, very original in its ideas, which in 'Sci-Fi' is always far more important than spectacle. Director Natali focuses on characters above all else and in humanising its main creature, makes Dren at turns incredibly sympathetic, whilst keeping tabs on the fact that she is also incredibly dangerous. This is a B-Movie, albeit a very thoughtful one, that might lead to its downfall in some audiences. The film will not play well to all, rather only those who are willing to go along and explore the various psychological undertones that this film has to offer. This all mixes schlocky and 'icky' thrills, with sometimes uncomfortable questions about human nature in how they react to not only each other, but also their ability to simultaneously create and destroy. Everyone has tremendously selfish flaws. Everyone, even Dren is dealt in very human terms. It simply wont play to everybody and many will snigger at some of the antics on screen.
I however found parts to be very entertaining and thought provoking. It plays on levels its genre should, but also brings in some very dark notes of humour. That it offers the audience some very uncomfortable questions to ponder, adds to its surprising originality. Brody and Polley both deliver strong work. Brodys submissive and weak minded character works well with Polleys all controlling and domineering bitchiness. Both offer subtle character details important for actions later on in the films and as events turn ever more outlandish, our basis in the two leads grounds the proceedings. However, the films secret is Dren, played by Delphine Chanéac. At turns an alarmingly sympathetic but frighteningly alien being; she is excellent and a great creature. In a film of this nature, its success lies in its monster and Dren is one of the best in recent memory. Possessing agile hind legs, three fingers on each hand, gills, wings and a long tail with a spike able to dispense poison on her victims, her effect is stunning. A wonderful combination of CG, and prosthetics work, actress Chanéac brings Dren to life to great effect. All the more impressive considering she has only her stunning expressions and features to gain the audiences sympathies. Effects for the creatures are all top notch and initial scenes in the labs offers some squirm inducing splatter for the gore hounds.
Director Vincenzo Natali and producer Guillermo Del Toro offer shocks in body horror that would make Cronenberg proud, yet never forget that crucial human element. The idea is fantasically played out to sometimes shocking effect. However it is only during the climax that the film dramatically falls apart. Up until this point, the film has been anything but stereotypical, yet it soon transforms into predictable and lazy horror territory. It's almost as if its makers lost interest come the final third. It does not fully manage to ruin the entire experience; if you have been with the film up until this point, you will forgive it. However, it is just a shame the film takes such a nose dive in its final few scenes. In walking a very fine line between exploitive and intelligent film making throughout, the film always threatens to let its outlandish and sometimes uncomfortable ideas devour proceedings. For the most part, it is a very fresh take on the sci-fi horror genre. Brody shows more range a million miles from his tough guy soldier in "Predators" and Polley takes a risk with her icy and psychologically damaged 'mother'. Chanéac helps create one of the finest movie monsters in recent memory and all effects for the creature are thoroughly convincing. It's weak climax and often unusual tone threaten to derail things, but for the most part "Splice" offers a refreshing take on the Frankenstein story.
Verdict: 65%
The cast all do strong work and in Dren we have a stunning new movie creature creation. Vincenzo Natalis subversive take on the sci-fi monster genre will divide audiences but for those willing to accept its outlandish themes, a very thought provoking, uncomfortable and sometimes shocking foray into horror is waiting for them.
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